Packing receptacle

ABSTRACT

A packing receptacle for an article to be packed, in particular a headset, comprises a box and an insert which is removable from the box. The insert comprises a base part having an upstanding end wall at each end with a slot therein for securing the headset to the end walls and for supporting the head set on the base. When the insert is inside of the box, it holds the headset in the box in a manner such that it will be centered in respect to the walls of the box and held away from the walls in a protected position. When the insert is outside of the box, it comprises a stand which supports the headset for display or storage purposes.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to packaging devices in general and, inparticular, to a new and useful packing receptacle, particularly forheadsets, which comprises a box with an insert which is removable fromthe box.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Packing receptacles with inserts are employed for the shipping ortransporting of headsets. Experience has shown, however, that forcertain types of headsets, particularly those with soft ear pads of foammaterials, the packing receptacles of the prior art, even if theycomprise an insert forestalling the movements of the packed articleduring transportation, are unsatisfactory because after long storage ofthe headset in the packing receptacle, the ear pads become compressed,whereby, they not only lose their pleasing aspect, but also may nolonger perform their function of fitting snugly against the head, andthis reduces the quality of reproduction. It is therefore of greatimportance to provide a packing receptacle for retaining the headsetfirmly within the receptacle, but also in a manner such that the earpads remain free in the box while the headset as such is prevented frommoving even under shaking conditions. The insert should be usable notonly for protecting the packed article but also for display purposes andfor storing of the article.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, it is provided that the insert and thearticle to be packed form a loosely assembled unit and that when theinsert is within the box, it serves as a protection against damagesduring transportation and, when it is outside of the box, the insertserves as a support for displaying and storing the article to betransported in the packing receptacle.

A further feature of the invention is that the insert comprises a basepanel designed as a supporting surface, and side panels are provided,which extend upwardly from opposite edges of the base panel and haveopenings and/or slots, by means of which the article to be packed can befixed in a definite position.

According to a development of the invention, the upwardly extending sidepanels are connected at their free ends to another panel which isprovided at its rear edge with a strip having openings or loops. Thisdesign also makes it possible to suspend the packed article, fixed inthe insert, from a wall or the like.

Since the insert is also intended for displaying the article to bepacked, it may be designed in contradistinction to inserts of the priorart as a stable and rigid structure, and this is also advantageous forthe purchaser since he may use the insert for proper permanent storageof the packed article, for example a headset, without risking damage tothe headset caused by improper storage thereof.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a packingreceptacle for an article to be packaged, such as a headset, whichcomprises a box and an insert which is insertable or removable from thebox which comprises a base portion and a wall portion at each end of thebase portion having an opening therein for supporting a headset both inthe box in a safe and protected position and out of the box, in adisplay position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a packing receptacle forheadsets which is simple in design, rugged in construction andeconomical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses,reference is made to the accompanying drawing and descriptive matter inwhich preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the Drawing:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an insert constructed inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a container having a headset with theinsert holding the headset in a protected position; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, similar to FIG. 1, of another embodimentof the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawing in particular, the invention embodied thereinin FIG. 1, shows the inventive insert in a simplified perspective view.The insert comprises a rectangular base panel 1 which, at the same time,serves as a supporting surface for display or for storing with thepurchaser. Two side panels 1a and 1a' extend upwardly or outwardly fromthe short edges of base panel 1 and each has an opening 8, 8' forreceiving an extension of the earpiece. To facilitate the insertion ofthe headset, slots 1e, 1e' are provided which are slightly narrower thanopenings 8, 8' to obtain a certain clamping of the headset in theretaining structure of the insert.

It can be seen from FIG. 2 that the headset with the inventive insertcan be accommodated in a cardboard box 12. A free space is providedbeneath the insert to receive the headset cable 13. The inventive insertis so deep that the earpieces cannot project therefrom, whereby, therisk that the ear pads would permanently apply against any surface andmight thereby be deformed is eliminated. This detail cannot be seen inFIG. 2 which is a top plan view and for this reason has been particularpointed out separately. The figure shows, however, that the earpieces 3,3 extend completely freely and that the headband applies against threewalls of box 12 and, in practice, the motion capability of the headsetis forestalled.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the inventive insert, which isparticularly suitable for display and storage. As in the simplifiedshowing of FIG. 1, the insert shown in FIG. 3 also comprises two sidepanels 10a, 10a' connected to base panel 10. Slots 12, 12' are providedfor holding the headset, but they do not extend vertically, buthorizontally, which is due to a further provision that the two sidepanels 10a, 10a' are connected on their ends to a further panel 1g whichis provided with a strip 14 having openings 11, 11' on its rear edge bymeans of which the insert may be suspended, for example, from a wall.With this embodiment, of course, the headset is introduced into theinsert from the front side.

It will be understood that within the present specification, the ideaunderlying the invention can be explained only with reference to simpleexamples. Those skilled in the art may vary the design according toapplication, so that with the simple embodiments shown, thepossibilities are in no way exhausted. Thus, for example, the insert maycomprise two parts glued together, of which the outer one wouldcorrespond approximatey to the shape shown in FIG. 1, while the innerone would be provided, in the zone of openings 8, 8' with a stepintended, in the particular instance of a headset, for supporting theearphone case, so that not even strong impacts on the packing receptaclecould move the earpieces which, as usual, are mounted for displacementon headband 2. In addition, slots 1a, 1a' leading to openings 8, 8' maybe designed so as to form a guide for headband 2 in the zone of theearpiece.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the principles ofthe invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:
 1. A packing receptacle for a headset havingdeformable earpieces, comprising a box and an insert which is removablefrom said box, said insert and the headset to be packed forming aloosely assembled unit, and said insert having a supporting base and aside wall on each end of said base engageable with said headset forproviding protection against damage to said headset by maintaining aspacing between the earpieces and said box during transportion of saidbox, said insert base serving as a support for displaying and storingthe headset to be transported in the packing receptacle, the insertcomprising a base panel designed as a supporting surface havingrespective opposite end edges, an upwardly directed side panel rigidlyconnected to each edge of said supporting surface having an opening andcommunicating slot therein serving for fixing the headset to be packedin a definite position within and outside of said box.
 2. A packingreceptacle, according to claim 1, in which, at their free ends, a rearpanel is connected between said upwardly extending side panels, saidrear panel having a rear edge strip with an opening therethrough bywhich said insert can be suspended from a wall.
 3. A packing receptaclefor retaining and immobilizing a headset therein, comprising arectangular container having a bottom wall and upstanding side walls andend walls, a removable packing insert comprising a base portion adaptedto be spaced from one of said side walls, an end wall at each endextending upwardly from said base portion and having a headset receivingslot defined therein, said end walls extending rigidly from said baseportion, and a headset comprising a head encircling band with anearpiece at each end of said band with a reduced diameter portionbetween said earpiece and said band engaged in a respective slot of saidinsert, said earpieces comprising deformable material and being retainedin said packing insert in spaced relationship with the walls of saidrectangular container within said container, whereby said packing insertis removable from said rectangular container for independentlysupporting said headset.
 4. A packing receptacle, according to claim 3,wherein said insert end walls include slots extending inwardly from theouter end thereof.
 5. A packing receptacle, according to claim 3,wherein said slots in said end walls include a slot extending laterallyinto a side of said end wall.
 6. A packing receptacle, according toclaim 3, wherein said insert includes a top wall portion overlying saidbase portion and connected to the outer ends of each of said end wallsand a rear strip hinged to said top wall portion and having at least oneopening therein for a fastening member.